Otočac Small Hydropower Plant
In October 2022, we entered into an agreement for the development of a small hydropower plant in Otočac, Lika - Senj County. At Otočac SHPP we will install our new development - submersible machines for low-head small hydropower plants. This is another project where we contribute as an active driver of the green transition and expand the supply of energy from renewable energy sources.
In October 2022, we entered into an agreement for the development of a small hydropower plant in Otočac, Lika - Senj County. The plant will operate as part of Senj Hydroenergy System, which is set up to harness the hydro potential of the rivers Lika and Gacka along the energy region from the Lika plain to the Adriatic Sea.
The heart of the power plant is a submersible machine for low-head small hydropower plants, a result of our R&D project, composed of permanent magnet generators and Kaplan variable-speed turbines.
The technical solution of the newly developed submersible machine is based on dual regulation, utilizing flow on the drive unit and the rotation speed of permanent magnet generators. Dual regulation ensures favourable operating conditions during flow or head variations that may occur due to changing lower water level. Each generation unit will feature our newly developed frequency converters for speed regulation. Frequency converters will also include a water-to-water heat exchanger for cooling.
The average head of Otočac SHPP is 3 to 6 meters, with an installed flow of 3*16 m3/s. The plant is designed with 1.5 MW connection capacity and will comprise three independent 500 kW power generation units.
Within the scope of the project, our installation will also encompass our MV plant KSMA, 5TBNO 2000-36x/AAA and 5TBNp 100-36x/AAA transformers. The plant will be managed by our proprietary SCADA system PROZA NET.
Construction works started in March 2023, when the section of Šumećica water pipeline was relocated and excavations for the power plant building commenced. The works are scheduled for completion in Q3 2024, when we expect to complete the connection works on the inlet and outlet channels of the power plant to the Lika – Gacka channel and build overflows. Connection works will be carried out during the planned overhaul of Senj HPP over the course of August and September 2024, in order to reduce possible disruptions and ensure uninterrupted generation at Senj HPP.
Final handover is slated for April 2025. Expected annual generation at Otočac SHPP exceeds 7 GWh. This is another project where we contribute as an active driver of the green transition and expand the supply of energy from renewable energy sources.